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Remembering Edgar Allan Poe
by
findingDulcinea Staff
Every year a mysterious visitor pays homage to Edgar Allan Poe, the doyen of gothic American verse. On Jan. 19, the anniversary of Poe’s birthday, an unidentified admirer leaves a half-filled bottle of cognac and three red roses at the poet’s grave.
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According to some accounts, the “Poe Toaster” has paid his respects in this way since 1949. Locals who know the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Baltimore told the Associate Press that the tradition has probably been kept up by more than one person, though none of them has ever come forward to claim responsibility.
Edgar Poe was born in Boston in 1809 and led a life marked by poverty, illness and addiction. As a young man, he attended the University of Virginia where he joined the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society and distinguished himself in French and Latin. But his gambling debts grew so fast he was forced to leave before his first year was up.
He joined the United States Army but left after two years. His subsequent career at West Point was curtailed when he was expelled for bad behavior.
A number of magazine jobs followed, and he continued to work on his stories and poems.
In New York he wrote his most famous short story, "The Fall of the House of Usher,” in 1839. He published “The Raven” in 1845, which undoubtedly became his most famous poem. This verse tale of a man haunted by his dead lover is still known and loved by readers around the globe.
No doubt its lines are on the lips of the Poe Toaster every Jan. 19: “Once upon a midnight weary, while I pondered weak and weary/ Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten law …”
Edgar Poe was born in Boston in 1809 and led a life marked by poverty, illness and addiction. As a young man, he attended the University of Virginia where he joined the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society and distinguished himself in French and Latin. But his gambling debts grew so fast he was forced to leave before his first year was up.
He joined the United States Army but left after two years. His subsequent career at West Point was curtailed when he was expelled for bad behavior.
A number of magazine jobs followed, and he continued to work on his stories and poems.
In New York he wrote his most famous short story, "The Fall of the House of Usher,” in 1839. He published “The Raven” in 1845, which undoubtedly became his most famous poem. This verse tale of a man haunted by his dead lover is still known and loved by readers around the globe.
No doubt its lines are on the lips of the Poe Toaster every Jan. 19: “Once upon a midnight weary, while I pondered weak and weary/ Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten law …”
Headline Link: ‘Mystery Man’s Annual Visit to Poe Grave’
This year, on Jan. 19, the anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe’s birthday, an unknown visitor left half a bottle of cognac and three red roses at Poe's graveside. Since 1949 a “Poe Toaster” has left these items in silent homage.
Source: Associated Press
Biography: Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849)
Edgar Poe was born in Boston in 1809 and as young man attended the University of Virginia for less than a year. After leaving the United States Army and being expelled from West Point, Poe moved along the east coast. In New York he wrote "The Fall of the House of Usher” in 1839 and published "The Raven and Other Poems and Tales" in 1845.
Source: University of Virginia
The Raven Society, University of Virginia’s oldest honorary society, provides a detailed history of Poe’s time at the University of Virginia. While at UVA, Poe joined the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society and received honors in French and Latin before his gambling debts forced him to leave.
Source: The Raven Society
Related Topics: Poe fan club, Works by Poe and the author celebrated
Despite being dead for over 156 years, Edgar Allan Poe has a substantial fan base online. In addition to offering works by Poe and an extensive library of criticism on his writing, The House of Usher compiles all the songs in which Poe or his works are mentioned.
Source: The House of Usher
The Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore has compiled a comprehensive bibliography of Poe's correspondence. Included in the list are letters that passed between Poe and other authors of his time.
Source: Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore
The Gutenberg Project offers most of Poe’s works including "The Raven" and the short story "The Fall of the House of Usher."
Source: The Gutenberg Project
The Poe Museum offers some of Poe’s works in full including one of his more famous short stories, "The Tell-Tale Heart." In addition, the Poe quiz offered by the site allows users to test their knowledge of the famous author and poet.
Source: Poe Museum
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